Powerful advocacy events across college and university campuses are vital to long-term social change goals. How can those conversations and work lead towards the most meaningful impact across our campuses and in the community? In this session, you will learn about an Issue Based Model from Berry College that has promoted social change across a variety of different issue areas that integrates advocacy, service and policy awareness.

1. ISSUE-BASED
TEAMS
ROOTING CHANGE MOMENTUM THROUGH
Jasmine Rangel,
Berry College ‘17
Elisabeth Martin,
Berry College ‘20
Banksy

2. WHAT’S
WRONG WITH
THE WORLD?
ICE BREAKER

3. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WORLD?
▸ What are the issues YOU believe are important or worth
discussing on YOUR campus?
▸ in your community?
▸ in larger society?
▸ Why?

4. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD STORIES?
▸ What events have happened on
campus in the recent past that
have been a result of student
“organizing”?
▸ What were the results? What
do you wish the results were?
Were there any frustrations?
▸ What structures do you have in
your program that allow you to
advocate for issues on your
campus/in the community?

5. ISSUE-BASED
MODEL
BERRY COLLEGE

6. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
ISSUE-BASED (PAST MODEL)
RESEARCH
ADVOCACY
Brief research
Advocacy
publication
small service
project
SERVICE PLUNGE
SYMPOSIUMpresenting on
issue briefly

7. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
FALL SEMESTER (CURRENT)
1. BRAINSTORM ISSUE TOPIC
2. RESEARCH ISSUE TOPIC
3. PLAN AND FACILITATE ADVOCACY
FORUM
Narrow topic within teams
Begin research
Campus-centered
advocacy forum

8. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
SPRING SEMESTER (CURRENT)
1. SERVICE PLUNGE
2. POLICY OPTIONS
3. SYMPOSIUM / CAMPUS-WIDE
PRESENTATION
issue-topic related
service project
Issue-Brief
Final campus-wide
presentation reviewing
year’s accomplishments

9. ELISABETH
MARTIN
Berry College ’20

10. JASMINE
RANGEL
Berry College ’17

11. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
HISPANIC COMMUNITIES 16-17

14. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE BASED TEAMS
THE DEMAND FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

15. deportation and grants work permits for qualified undocumented immigrants who
came to the United States as children for up to two years, subject to renewal. In
order to meet DACA’s qualifications, individuals must be in high school, have a
diploma, or be a veteran. They must have also never been convicted of a felony or
serious misdemeanor. DACA does not, however, offer a path for undocumented
immigrants to obtain citizenship. This is the purpose of the DREAM Act, a
proposal which has currently not been passed by Congress. Thus, DACA allows
students and workers who have immigrated to the United States but do not have the
means to obtain citizenship the opportunity to freely pursue their education or
career without the constant fear of deportation.
To qualify for DACA, individuals must:
• Be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.
• Be at least 15 years old at the time of application; the age 15 issue does not
matter for people already in removal proceedings.
• Arrival in the United States occurred at age 16 or under
• Had continual residence in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the
present time
• Have been physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the
time of application
• Have entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or lawful immigration
status expired as of June 15, 2012
• Be currently enrolled in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of
completion from high school, have passed the General Education Development
(GED) certificate or are enrolled in a program to do so, or are an honorably
discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States (Coast Guard
included)
• Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more
other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or
public safety.
• Pay a filing fee of $465 (which includes the fee for work authorization
document.
• * The two-year protection from deportation offers potential for extensions and
there is not deadline for submitting an application for DACA. (Key Factors)
The future of DACA is currently uncertain, and st
rely on DACA to continue going to school or work
current presidential administration will keep the
altogether. Thus, DACA recipients who have inve
homes here are currently in a precarious situatio
administration’s future decisions on immigration
worked so hard to get.
Service Plun
Personal
Reflections
“I feel like our issue based group has been beneficial and impactful over the semester.
Being a part of this group has given me a real passion for this issue and allowed me to
share what I've learned with people both inside and outside the Berry community. At our
service plunge we were able to educate a few people and give them hope for an
education. It was really rewarding to see them get excited and learn about resources and
information that was very empowering to them.”
Kaela Ruble , Freshman
“Being a part of this issue based has allowed me to advocate for a group of people that
are voiceless. It has shown me that, as a Hispanic, we cannot stand in fear but rather we
must stand together and advocate for each other. Our service plunge was focused on
helping Hispanic students apply to college, but we wanted to specifically focus on DACA
students, because of the barriers they face when applying to college. I am thankful that
we were able to educate the Berry Community with our panel in the Fall Semester, and I
am full of gratitude for the benevolent passion of this team to embrace diversity in such
a harsh political climate.”
Giuliana Fernandez-Deza, Sophomore
“It's amazing how much potential people have. Sometimes it needs to be encouraged! I am
so happy that the people who came to our session trusted us. It encouraged me so much to
know that the young man who attended felt motivated to pursue his goals! That will always
be the most satisfying feeling in the world for me- when people believe in themselves to get
something they want done.”
Alejandra Lopez, Senior
“This semester’s issue bas
American community, but
undocumented. It has bee
something that has affecte
on the issue. “
“I was so surprised that not as many people were informed about their options and how
discouraged they were. It was a great feeling being able to help students realize they have a
chance of going to college. I’m thankful that our Issue Based Team was able to organize an
event that made a difference in the lives of these Hispanic students. ”
Tahmina Naseri, Sophomore
“I think that our first service plunge was a great opportunity for us to learn firsthand from
individuals experiencing the issue we are studying. We were able to come alongside a small
group of high school students from the community and discuss topics that were relevant to
their specific situations, which helped us understand the issue from a new, personal
perspective. Although we did not have a large group in attendance, I believe that the
experience will prove beneficial as we move forward to our second service plunge and seek
to impact those in the local Hispanic community desiring to pursue higher education.”
John Tucker, Senior
“Our issue based group has taught me that so many immigrants need our help and that
our voice does matter. Coming into this group, I did not realize how many undocumented
immigrants there were. I did not realize how hard some of them worked to get here or
stay here. I did not realize that undocumented immigrants, who were brought over when
they were children and had no say, could be stripped of so many privileges. But now, I
know. Through this experience, I have grown closer to the Bonner family as well as the
Rome community, especially through part one of our service plunge. I cannot wait for the
second part.”
Reanna Huskey, Freshman
Golden Door Scholars
fpif.org
● College Access Workshop:
○ Targeted Audience: First
Generation students,
Undocumented High School
Students,
● Location:
○ Berry ESL Program, Ridge
Ferry Park
● Resources:
○ Financial Aid Help for
Undocumented Students
○ Applying To College Check-
List
○ Best Colleges/Universities to
research (DACA friendly)
○ Scholarship help and advice
“Our service plunge allow
that were in attendance.
DACA for a year, but he w
empowered everyone on
“I thought that the servic
students who are sometim
potential. It was a great w
and let people know that
“I thought our informatio
so excited and hungry for
undocumented citizens in

16. ROOTING CHANGE THROUGH ISSUE-BASED TEAMS
HISPANIC COMMUNITIES
▸ Added our narrative to a largely
negative and fear-provoking,
political rhetoric against
immigrants
▸ College Access Workshop for local
first generation / DACA students
▸ Opened up conversations on
campus about the undocumented
population and immigration
reform

17. QUESTIONS
THANKS FOR
ATTENDING!